Grain separator and cleaner



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. H. RING.

GRAIN SEPARATOR AND CLEANER.

No. 459,552. Patented Sept. 15,1891.

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(no Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. H. RING. GRAIN SEPARATOR AND CLEANER.

No. 459,552. Patented Sept. 15, 1891.

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(No Model.)

H. H. RING. GRAIN SEPARATOR AND CLEANER.

Patented Sept. 15,1891.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

H. H. RING. GRAIN SEPARATOR AND CLEANER.

No. 459,552. Patented Sept. 15,1891;

"whim UNrrnn STATES PATENT .QFFICE HENRY H. RING, OF LAIRDSVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO \VALDRON & SPROUT, OF MUNCY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRAIN SEPARATOR AND CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,552, dated September 15, 1891.

Application filed April 2, 1891. Serial No- 387,398. (No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern: I of Fig. II through the recovery and discharge Be it known that I, HENRY H. RING, a citiair-conduit. Fig. IV is a detail plan of the zen of the United States, and a resident of vibrating shoe. Figs. V and VI are longi- Lairdsville, in the county of Lycoming and tudinal and transverse sections, respectively, 55

State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain through the vibrating shoe on the lines 2 z new and useful Improvements in Grain Sepaand'y y, respectively, of Fig. IV; and FigVIIis rators and Cleaners; and I do hereby declare an enlarged sectional view through the scourthe following to be a full, clear, and exact deing mechanism on the plane indicated by the scription of the invention, such as will endotted line w w of Fig; II. 6 [0 able others skilled in the art to which it ap- Like letters and numerals of reference depertains to make and use the same. note corresponding parts in all the figures of This invention relates to an improved grain the drawings. separator and cleaner; and the object is to The present machine is designed to prepar effect the separation of refuse matter and the the unclean grain, mixed with grass, dirt, 65

scouring of the grain in a single continuous gravel, and other refuse, just as it comes to operation, thus placing the grain in condithe hand of the miller, in condition for imtion for use after it is delivered from the mamediate use, if desired, and to this end the chine. dirt and sand, twigs, straw, chaff, large and The invention consists in the combination small gravel, and other refuse matter must 7o of a movable screen or sieve for separating first be separated from the grain. Thelatter and cleaning the grain from the chaff, &c., a must then be scoured and cleansed free from primary air-conduit into which the grain and the thin skin or whiskers adhering to the small gravel is deposited, an enlarged airkernels of grain, and the light particles of chute of greater cross-sectional area than-the dust, &c., from the scouring mechanism must 1 5 2 5 primary conduit, which is in communication be carried away from the grain as it leaves with the primary air-conduit and is provided said scouring mechanism. All of the operawith an automatic valve adapted to be opened tions are consecutively performed in a maby weight of the grain, a suction-fan, scourchine embodying my invention, in which as ing mechanism arranged to receive the kermany different mechanisms as there are op- 3o nels of grain from the enlarged air-chute, and erations to be performed are combined in a a secondary air-conduit in communication novel and compact manner. with the suction-fan and receiving the secured The several operating parts of the machine clean grain and the light particles of dust are supported on a main frameA of suitable from the scouring mechanism, the several construction and proportions. In this frame 35 mechanisms being all combined'and arranged A, I arrange a cleaning-shoe B, which is arfor operation substantially as will hereinafranged to vibrate or reciprocate back and ter be fully explained. forth inthe frame, and said shoe is suspended The invention further consists in the novel by vertical arms or links I) b, which are suitconstruction of parts in some of the several ably attached to the shoe and to the main 4o mechanisms, and also in the combination of frame. This primary cleaning-shoe operates devices, which will be fully described and to separate the kernels of grain from the dust claimed. and sand, twigs, large gravel, and small stones,

To enable others to fully understand my chaff, and all other refuse that may get mixed invention, I have illustrated the same in the with the grain, except the small gravel, which 45 accompanying drawings, in'which are about the size of the kernels of grain, and

FigureIis a side elevation of my separator the separation of the small gravel from the and cleaner. Fig, II is a vertical longitudinal grain is effected in the primary air-chute B, sectional view thereof, taken centrally into which the grain and small gravel from through the shoe, the primary air-conduit and the cleaning-shoe are deposited. I00

0 air-chute, and the frame. Fig. III is a verti- Y I will now proceed to describe in detail the cal transverse sectional view on the line X X construction of one form of cleaning-shoe which may be employed, and which, as will be seen by reference to Figs. I and II, is inclined slightly from its receiving toward its discharge end. The cleaning-shoe is shown in detail in Figs. IV, V, and Y1, and it is provided with a casing 1, having a suitable bottom and raised sides 2 and to the bottom are secured battens or strips 3 3, which divide the casing into two shallow compartments 4 5. At the upper end of the shoe I provide a receiving-compartment 6, which is isolated from the upper compartment 4 by the partition 3, and this receiving-compartment 6 is nearly or quite the full depth of the shoe to adapt it to receive all the material from the chute G, which is suspended above the shoe, as shown. The shoe is provided with two screens 7 S, which are of different sizes, and said screens 7 and 8 rest on the battens 3 3' and lie over the compartments 4 5, respectively. The screens may be made of perforated sheet metal or wire-gauze, and the upper screen 7 over the compartment 4 and adjacent to the receiving-compartment 6 has apertures which are much smaller than the interstices or apertures in the lower screen 8 over the compartment 5. In the bottom of the shoe-casing, above the imperforate batten 3, is a slot or opening 9, which serves to dis charge the sand and dirt from the compartment 4 into a spout 10, fixed to the bottom of the shoecasing. The twigs, straw, chaff, large stones, and other refuse too large to pass through the screen 8 are carried over the screens to the lower end of the shoe by the rapid vibration thereof and discharged into a spout 11, (see Figs. II and IV,) which is fixed to theslower discharge end of the shoe transversely thereof, and the matter deposited in the two spouts 10 11 is discharged onto the floor or into suitable receptacles provided for the purpose. In the vertical side 2, at the lower end of the shoe-casing, an outlet opening or slot 12 (shown in Fig. V) is provided for the passage of small gravel and the grain, and the bottom of the shoe is extended, asat 13, to form a ledge below the slot 12, which ledge rests on a mouth-piece 14, (see Fig. 11,) fixed to the primary air-conduit B below an opening or slot 15 therein,'whereby the grain and small gravel are delivered to said primary air-conduit without waste. The shoe is vibrated rapidly by means of a pitman 16, (in Figs. Iand II,) fixed to the bottom of the shoecasing, and having a yoke 17, which embraces an eccentric (not shown) on a rotary shaft D, which is journaled in suitable bearings (not shown) on the main frame A. The chute 0 receives the grain which is mixed with straw, sand, and other refuse matter, which is deposited into the receiving-compartment 6 at the upper end of the shoe. As the shoe is vibrated very rapidly the sand and dirtfrom the compartment 6 passes overand through the small screen 7 into the compartment 4, Figs. II and V. The straw, twigs, and other matter too large for the screen 8 pass over the shoe into the spout '11, and the grain and small gravel pass through the open interstices in the large screen 8 into the compartment 5, and thence through the openings 12 and 15, Figs. II and V, into the primary air-conduitB. The screens 7 and 8 of the shoe rest upon the battens3 3" and are held in place between the sides and ends of the shoe-casing, and it is evident that the screens can be easily removed and others used in lieu thereof. The spout O is provided with a sleeve 0, which fits snugly thereon and depends toward the compartment 6 of the shoe, and this sleeve 0 is adapted for vertical adjustment on the spout by means of a regulating-screw G which works in a suitably-fixed bearing on the frame A and in a lug c, fixed to the side of the spout.

(See Fig. I.) As it may sometimes be desirable to change the inclination of the vibrating shoe, I provide the sleeve 0 with the meansfor adjusting itvertically; orthis sleeve may be adjusted to permitalargcr or smaller quantity of matter to pass through to the shoe.

E is the suction-fan inclosed within a suitable casing e, which is mounted on the .main frame A above the vibrating shoe, and with the chamber of the fan-casing communicates a chamber F, formed by a casing f, Fig. 1, which is suitably secured to said frame A.

G is an enlarged air-ch-ute,\vhich is of greater cross-sectional area than the primaryair-conduit B. This air-chute is arranged at one side or in the rear of the primary .conduit B and also in rear of the secondary air-conduit H, which conduits B II are arranged vertically side by side in front of the enlarged chute G, and they are both substantially the same in size. (See Fig. III.) The air-chute G has its upper end enlarged to forma chamber G, and between this chamber G" andthe chamber .F isa vertical partition g, whichextends below the bottom of the casing f for a short distance, as at g, the upperend of'the vertical partition'g terminating below the top of the chute G to leave a vpassage or opening 1' between the two chambers F G for thepassage of the air-current from the conduit B to the suction-fan. The size of the opening or passagez' between the chambers G F can be varied by means of a blast gate or valve I, which is suspended fromthe top-of the-chute G and .held in place by means of a set-screw,

I, which is readily accessible from the outside of the chute, as shown in Fig. II. The lower portion of the air-chuteG is contracted and tapered to form a discharge-spoutg and within this contracted end 9 of theair-chute is an automatic valve G which is hinged to one side of the'chute and arranged in a ver' tically-inclined position to close the lower-en d of the chute when the suction-fan is in operation, said valve G being automatically operated by the weight of the grain which is precipitated through the chute G on its way to the scouring mechanism, aswill. be hereinafter more fully described. The upper-endof the secondary air-conduit H opens directly medium or interposition of the enlarged chamber G, with which chamber G the primary air-chute B has direct communication by an opening or slot 1), (see Fig. 11,) located in the upper end of the air-conduit at one side of the depending lower end g of the vertical partition 9, between the chambers F G. (See Fig. II.)

In the practical operation of the machine the current of air having the'greatest volume and force is produced in the primary conduit B, as the valve G closes the air-chute G when the fan is in motion and the valve 11 is properly adjusted in the conduit H, and such current in this primary conduit B is of sufficient strength to carry upward the kernels of grain deposited in the conduit from the cleaning screen or sieve. The small gravel which is delivered into the primary conduit along with the grain is separated from the kernels of the grain in the primary conduit, owing to the fact that the gravel is of greater specific gravity than the kernels of grain and the aircurrent in such primary conduit is of sufficient strength to carry 'the grain up the conduit. Thus the small gravel is discharged from the lower end of the primary conduit B, while the grain is carried up the primary conduit by the air-current through the opening 1) and delivered into the enlarged chamber G of the chute G. As the chamber in this chute is of greater cross-sectional area than the area of the primary conduit, the strength of the aircurrent from the primary conduit in passing from the primary conduit through the chamber G is weakened ordiminished and thus rendered of insufiicient strength to sustain and carry with it the kernels of grain and thus fall by gravity toward the tapered end 9 of the chute and lodge upon the valve G2 therein until they are deposited into the scouring mechanism J indicated in Fig. II and shown in detail in Fig. VII. The depending end g of the vertical partition 9 operates in a measure to deflect the grain held in suspension in the air-current, and as the current of air is compelled by the partition 9 g to take a circuitous course through the enlarged chamber G before it reaches the chamber F, the necessary dimunition in the strength of the current is made possible. At

the same time the current of air, taking the circuitous or irregular course through the primary conduit, the enlarged chamber G, and the chamber F, is of sufficient strength to carry off with it the light particles of dust, &c., that are apt to pass with the grain and gravel into the primary conduit B. The current of air drawn by the fan through the secondary air conduit is regulated by the blastgate or valve H (seen in Fig. III) to such strength or force that the air-current therein will carry up the light matter from the scouring mechanism J, but the air-current in H will not carry up said secondary conduit.- the cleaned grain conveyed by the delivery-spout 30 (shown in Fig. II) from the scourerinto the secondary conduit H. The scourer J is shown in detail in Fig. VII of the drawings, and it comprises a shaft 20, j ournaled in a long bearing (or two bearings may be used,) a grainreceptacle 21, arranged below the discharge end g of the enlarged air-chute, a stationary case or shell 23, having an axial inlet opening 24, a feed-screw 25, carried by the shaft 20 and operating in the grain-receptacle to positively force the grain into the casing or shell, and'a disk 26, fixed to the shaft within the case or shell and carrying the heaters or blades 27, arranged to operate in the compartments 28 formed in the case or shell b a series of concentric partitions 29, fixed to one side of the case or shell.

The construction of the scourer is not claimed, specifically, in this application, as it forms the subject-matter of a separate application (case D) filed by meof even date herewith, and bearing Serial No. 387,399, for improvements in grain scourers, to which application reference is made for a fuller explanation of the scourer.

The case or shell 23 of the scourer has the discharge-spout 30, (seeFigJIL) which opens into the lower end of the secondary air-conduit H, and the partitions 29 of the said shell or case have openings which are arranged out of line to cause the grain to travel or move around in each compartment before passing into the other compartments successively by the action of the feed-screw and the heaters upon the grain in the receptacle or hopper and the compartments of the case or shell, and the incoming grain crowds upon and pushes the grain in and through the central compartment of the scourer to the dischargespout 80. The disk 26 moves with the shaft 20, and the heaters act on the grain to remove the thin skin or coating therefrom and effectually clean the grain by the time it is discharged into the secondary air-conduit. The power is applied by a belt 31 to a belt-pulley 32, fixed to the end of the screw-shaft 20, Fig. V ILand the other end of this shaft 20 has a smaller pulley 33, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1,) from which a belt 34 runs to'a pulley 35 on the shaft D to operate the latter shaft and the vibrating screen, the fan E be ing driven by a belt 36, which passes around pulleys 37 38, respectively, on the fan-shaft'D.

The operation of my invention may be briefly summarized, as follows: The unclean buckwheat or grain is conveyed by the chute O to the vibrating shoe B, which is reciprocated rapidly from the shaft D. The sand and dirt pass through the screen 7 into and through the compartment 4, the grain and small gravel pass into and through the compartment 5, and the twigs and other refuse too large for the screen '8 pass over the end of :the shoe into the spout 11. The sand and dirt-are discharged from the spout 10, Fig. IV, the twigs and other large refuse from the spout 11, and the grain and smallgravel are deposited into the primary air-conduit Thesmall gravelor other heavy rlnaterial is separated from the grain in theconduit .B and gravitate through the open lower end thereof, while-the grain iscarried by the blast-s of=air upward through the conduit into the enlarged chamber G, inzwhich chamber the.

grain :is precipitated into the hopper 2 1 :(see

Figs. II and VII) of the scourer, theair-cunrent from the conduit B carryingoi'flthelight particles of dust through the chamber 'Gintol the chamber F, thence to'the fan. Thegrain is positively forced ior conveyed into the scourer by the screw-conveyer,v an-dthen positi-vely forced through the:SHGGGSSiMB ICOHIPEWS- ments therein, in which it is cleaned by the action of the heaters or blades, and, "finally, the grain is delivered'into the secondaryconduit H, iandsgravitates into a suitable =receptacle, while the light particlesrandpdusttrom the scourer .are carried by the air-current through (the conduit II vinto :the chamber E, and'thence to the'fan.

I am aware that modifications .in the form ;I and proportion of parts anddetails-of co11- struct-ion can be madein manyinstances without-departing fromthe spirit or sacrificingithe i advantages thereof, and I would therefore, have it understood that I hold myself .at ll ib- 1 erty tomake such changes and alterationsas fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, 5 whatl claim as new, and desire to-secure by Letters Patent, .is

1. -In a grainseparatorandcleaner, the combination of a primary vertical air-conduit! open at its lower end, the cleaning shoe or a screen discharging into said conduit, :3; scourer, a vertical valvedsecon darry air-chute arranged above the scourer to deliver directly 5 thereto and having the enlarged 'chamberat its upper end, which communicates :directly with the primaryair-conduit, and'the suctionfan communicating with said chamber-of the secondary air-conduit, substantially .as 'described.

2. Ina grain separator and cleaner, thecom- I I bination of a cleaning shoe-or screen, va .primary air-conduit, a scourer, thevalved chute arrangedtoprecipitate the cleaned grain i n to the scourer and receiving directly from the 1 primary air-conduit, a secondary air oond'uit receiving from the scou-rer,-and a suction-fan communicating with both the secondary valved chute and the secondaryrair-conduit to exhaust the dust and light :particles from the primary conduit .and adapted to preci'pitate vthe grain into thescourer, thesecond'ary air-conduit "receiving from ithe-seouareraa suctionafan, :and an air-chamber 'l3:inte.rmed1ate of the fan and the'chute and secondary :airconduit, substantially as ;and:forthe purpose set forth.

4:. iniagrain separatorand cleanerythecombination zof a cleaning :s'hoe aor sieve, "the valved air-chute having the enlarged chamher at its upper endflheair-cham'b'er :F,-se;pa-

rated :from said enlarged -.chamber of the chute :by a partition, the primary-conduit receiving from the sieve or shoe and opening 'into'zthe ,chamberof 'th'e'chute belowzthe ch amber iEQ-and the fan, substantially :as :and for the purpose set -forth.

5. l-Insa grain separator and cleanergthecom 'binationof :avibrating cleaning-shoe, the vertioal valved chute having theenlargedchamher :at its :u pper end, the prirnaryatr-conduit opening into said chamber of the chute, :the

air-chamber JF, separated from the enlarged chamber of said chute by a -partition, the defiectorsituated :in front of :the .openingibetween the primary conduit and the enlarged chute-chamber, and the fan, substantially as and for the :purpose set forth.

-6. In agrain.separatonand-eleaner,athecoxm binationo'ta cleaningshoezor sieve, the vertical primary air-conduit, the vertical valved chute "having the enlarged chamber and receiving :from said conduihthe a1r-.chamber :F,separated :by a :partition from the chutechamber, .a blast-valve for opening or olosing the opening between thechutechamberand the chamber F, the .scourer, the secondary air-conduit receiving from the i-scoure-rand opening'into the chamber E, means for {regulating the blastin the secondaryconduihand the fan, substantiallyas and for the purpose setforth.

:In testimOny whereof Iafii-Xmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

v HENRY RING. Witnesses:

D. LDYsKINS, JoH-N WVALnRoN. 

